Victoria Bennett and Anna Dedmon scored 18 and 17 points respectively as Thomas Jefferson picked up their first conference win in nearly two years with a 64-48 triumph over Hendersonville Wednesday night.

Bennett also pulled down 13 rebounds in the contest to notch a double double. “That’s the best game Victoria has played all season,” said TJCA head coach Jim Greengrass. “And what can I say about Anna, she is just a great player. We have our fire back and we are going to more competitive the rest of the season.”

The senior scored consecutive fast-break layups and, by the time Victoria Bennett canned two foul shots, TJCA led 6-2.

Raven Thompson pulled Hendersonville to 6-5, but Alyssa Edwards answered with a three of her own and an offensive put back that expanded the lead. Dedmon garnered another layup to combat four points from Thompson as TJCA led 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The scoring pace slowed considerably to start the second quarter as each team committed turnovers on their first five trips down the floor.

Thompson finally broke the ice in the quarter, Rachael Tevis hit two straight shots from just inside the arc. Tevis then connected from 3-point range on the next possession to push TJCA to their largest lead.

Dedmon picked up her third foul midway through the quarter and Hendersonville went on a long run to tie the game at 25-25 at the half.

The squads split the first 12 points coming out of the locker room, Hendersonville took their first lead of the contest on an Emoree Rasheed jumper.

Autumn Ruppe retied the game with a layup on the other end. The game continued to go back and forth until Bennett scored in the post with 15 seconds left in the quarter to give the Gryphons a 38-36 going into the final quarter.

TJCA kept that two point lead until Edwards knocked a huge 3-pointer from the far corner to make the tally 45-40 at the 6 minute, 11 second mark.

Thompson brought the Lady Bearcats back with a three of her own. That’s as close as the visitors get as the Lady TJCA used its speed to pull away. Hendersonville went to a press which Dedmon and Tevis broke.

That resulted in several easy baskets for the TJCA, either from Dedmon taking the ball to the rim or Bennett down in the block.

When the Lady Bearcats backed off their press, the Lady Griffs found success in their half court sets. Ellen Kirkpatrick and Tevis both ended lengthy possession with foul line jumpers as TJCA pulled away for the 64-48 win

Aaliayah Waddell led Hendersonville with 23 points.

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